Times Square in the 1970s

[Mikey]

When about did they clean it up ?

I went there on a class trip in '78 and it was still scummy then

[Wee67]

I didn't really start going to NYC until the 80's and even then we generally stayed in the Village and over near Alphabet City to see bands or buy records.

Seeing these pictures makes me laugh about the New Yorkers who decry the "Disney-fication" of Times Square and yearn for the days when Times Square was more "New York." Yeah, Times Square is now filled with chain stores and restaurants, but that is waaay better the skank-fest it had become.

[cjefferys]

Heh, I read that link last week, lots of great colour pics! I love seeing photos like this, I really wish I got a chance to see Times Square during that period but I was way too young of course. So much wonderful sleeze!

[GlobalObserver]

https://cdn.viewing.nyc/assets/34e7f7df-18bb-480c-996a-f6a684c9795a/image-10-f482d0f6764c83ec3bd67fd16088a666.jpg

John Leguizamo hasn't changed all that much in 40 years.

[CrimsonGhost]

I feel like some of these were still there in the early 90's. Now Times Square and 42nd Street look like Disneyland.

[TrekStar]

First thing that came to my mind was, Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle wandering the sleazy streets
of New York and this is what he saw, what? no megos?

I recognize the last pic, shows the fllm Guy's and Dolls, Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando, and the backdrop in
that movie is Times Square, old blues eyes has been everywhere.

[Mikey]

42nd Street was nasty too

[daz71]

it looks pretty sleazy i didn't recognize any of the film titles.

[palitoy]

That's a lotta porno! This is what my dad still thinks it looks like.

https://viewing.nyc/maggie-hopps-color-photographs-of-times-square-in-the-1970s/